Display fixture



Nov. 2 6, 1929. J. J. OBRIEN DISPLAY FIXTURE Filed Sept. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet xi E (fa wasv J 05) He/z Nov. 26, 1929. J. J. OBRIEN 1,736,833

DISPLAY FIXTURE Filed Sept. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 26, 1929 NETED STTES ATENT OFFICE JAMES J. OBRIEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DISPLAY Application filed September This invention relates to fixtures and more particularly to portable display racks.

' It contemplates more especially a provision of a fixture which will provide an elaborate display of varied merchandise without consuming any appreciable space, an important item in commercial enterprises.

Numerous devices of the type mentioned have heretofore been proposed, but these have not proven entirely satisfactory due to their complex construction and inability to accommodate for display any appreciable number and variety of articles.

Further, it is highly desirable to provide adjustable elements constituent of a fixture so that different articles may be displayed without necessitating the use of fixtures or racks of various sizes and designs. It will be apparent that the provision of an adjust- 2O able fixture eliminates the necessity of having available a large number of fixtures of various sizes to meet the ordinary demands of seasonal displays.

One object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide a portable fixture which is adjustable to accommodate articles of various sizes and shapes.

A further object is to provide a fixture which is compact and capable of displaying numerous and varied articles.

A still further object is to provide novel article carriers which can be readily and conveniently associated with a fixture of the type mentioned. v

Other objects and advantages will appear from the fOllOWilig description of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a fixture embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the fixtures shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of a novel carrier shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of a r pairof spaced carriers of the type shown in F igure 3,

Cir

FIXTURE @1926. Serial No. 134,345.

Figure 5 is a detail View of a display device disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side view in elevation of the device shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIIVII of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VIII-VIII of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken sub stantially along line IX-IX of Figure 5.

The fixture selected for illustration comprises an appropriate base 10 adapted to receive a centrally disposed standard, in this instance a rod 11, which is slidably mounted in a boss 12 axially fixed to the base 10, there being a set screw 13 of standard construction associated with the boss 12 to selectively engage the rod 11. This expedient enables the standard to be maintained in any desired position, thereby rendering it adjustable with respect to the base 10.

A plurality of display devices, in this in stance six, are slidably and rotatably mounted on the rod 11 so'as to make possible the display of varied articles thereon within convenient View. The display device, in this instance, comprises a member 14 disposed parallel to the rod 11 in proximity thereto by means of spaced loops 15, in this instance two, which are integrally or otherwise secured to the member 14 so as to receive the rod 11 therethrough, whereby the member 14 is slidable and rotatable on the rod. Disposed normal to the member 14 at the lower extremity thereof, is a member 16 having a substantially U-shaped cross-section to define an upwardly extending groove 17 for accommodating a carrier to be hereinafter described. As shown, the member 16 comprises a pair of relatively slidable members 16 and 16 which are telescopically associated With each other, the latter having a restricted portion receivable by the former to enable sliding engagement therebetween. Any suitable securing means, such as threaded studs 18, may be employed to maintain the relatively movable members in fixed relation so as to accommodate a carrier of any desirable size or shape. The member 16 is preferably detachably connected with the vertically disposed member 14, the former 14.- which is depressed as at 20, to receive the manner to fix the member 22 arm 19 which is detachably fixed thereto by means of any appropriate fastener, in this instance a threaded bolt 21. This arrangement enables the substitution of a member of any form to accommodate articles of a varied nature.

Another member 22 is adjustably connected with. the member 1 1 in such a manner as to confront the member 16 between which a carrier may be disposed. The member 22 is provided with a normally disposed preferably integral arm 23 connected with the extremity therof to co-operate with the member 14-, it being slidably connected therewith, as will hereinafter be apparent. .To maintain the members 16 and 22 in any desired spaced relation, the member 1a is provided witn an elongated slot 2% adapted to co-operate with a similarly shaped slot provided in the arm 23 which receive therethrough suitable fasteners 25 and 26 adjustable in the ordinary to the member 14: in any desired or selected position, the fasteners in the present instance being threaded bolts and nuts. Obviously, the slot provided in the member 23 may be dispensed with, and the fasteners 25 and 26 fixed to the arm 23 to project through the slot 24 whereby adjustment will also be available. The member 22 is similar in construction to its confronting member 16, the former also having a substantially U-shaped cross-section with telescopically arranged constituent members 2 a and 22 The member 22" is slotted, as best shown in Figure 9, and the constituent members are maintained in their desired position by means of the studs 27, in this instance two, which studs, when tightened, engage the slotted portion of member 22 It is to be noted that the member 22 is provided along the upper edge thereof with a slot or cut out portion 28 which communicates with the groove defined by the U-shaped section thereof so as to receive therethrough a portion of the carrier card, as illustrated in Figure 1, to prevent the accidental removal thereof.

It will be noted that the U-shaped portion of each of the lateral members 16 and 22 doesnot extend to that end of the member adjacent the vertical support, and, best shown in Figure 6, that one of the walls of each of the U-shaped members is in offset-1e lation to the vertical member 14 and to the inner, and ungrooved, end portion of the lateral members. As shown in Figure 2, this construction permits a limited rotational movement of each of the display devices in dependent of the others assembled on the support, andit also prevents parallel contact between the display devices or any contact between them that would make it possible for merchandise supported on the. display devices to be injured by being crushed or rubbed.

'It is to be noted that the loops 15 provided on each of the display devices are spaced in such a way so that an appreciable number of display devices may be associated with the rod 11 without interfering with each other, the display devices being independently supported, in this instance, by a collar 29 slidably associated with the rod 11 and fixable thereto in any desired position by means of a set screw 30 of standard construction. The collar 29 is of such diameter as to receive thereon in supporting relation the lower ends of the display devices which have the loops 15 thereof arranged tobe in spaced relation with respect to the adjacent loop so that one display device may be turned without interfering with the loops on the remainder thereof, thereby decreasing the friction between the relatively co-acting members to a minimum.

As shown in Figure 1, carrier devices, in this instance cards 31,1nade a sheet material preferably stiff paper, are removably associated with the display devices to carry thereon varied merchandise, such as ties, socks and countless other articles. The carrier cards, in this instance, comprise a substantially rectangular sheet 31 of stiffened paper which has provided thereon an extended portion 32 at one extremity thereof which is projectable through the slot 23 of the member 22 so as to support the carrier between the confronting grooves of the members 16 and 22, the slot or cut out portion 28 co-opcrating with the extremity 32 of the card to prevent accidental removal thereof. It will be obvious that the end 32 of the carrier may be first inserted through the groove portion of the member 22 which has the slot 28 communicating therewith, after which the lower extremity of the card may be positioned in the groove 17 of the member 16 by slightly flexing the carrier. The adjustability of the display device permits the use of carrier cards of various sizes to display merchandise of any shape or size, it being obvious that the carrier cards may, if desired, be dispensed with in that members 16 and 22 can be relied upon the support merchandise thereon of any nature such as belts, hosiery, ties and countless other articles.

A novel carrier is provided, in this instance, to display socks and similar fabric articles. he carrier card 31, as shown, being provided with a series of parallel space-d, inclined overlapping slots 33 which confront or co-operate with a series of horizontally disposed slots 3% individual to the slots 33 so that a sock or similar fabric may be inserted in the inclined slot and extended throughthe horizontal slot 34 confronting therewith so as to display articles thereon in overlapping relation to facilitate a large number of varied articles as well as to retain them against unauthorized removal. The carrier cards 31 are preferably used in pairs, as shown in Figure 4, so that a display device will effectively display a comparatively large number of articles of varied designs in a minimum of space, it being obvious that other expedients may be resorted to in supporting articles for display.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a Wide range with out departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination With a vertical standard, of a plurality of display devices, spaced loops on said display devices, said loops loosely engaging said standard, and means for hingedly supporting said display devices at the bottom thereof whereby said loops are maintained in spaced relation on said stand ard, said supporting means being adjustable along the length of said standard.

2. The combination With a vertically disposed standard, of a plurality of display devices rotatably mounted thereon, each of said display devices comprising a member, disposed adjacent said standard, and laterally projecting confronting extensible members detachably connected With said member.

3. The combination With a vertically disposed standard, of a plurality of display devices rotatably mounted thereon, each of said display devices comprising a member disposed adjacent said standard, laterally projecting confronting extensible members detachably connected with said member, and means for rendering one of said confronting members adjustable With respect to the other of said members.

4. The combination with a vertically disposed standard, of a display device rotatable about said standard, said display device having spaced extensible confronting members extending normally of said standard, and means for detachably securing a card between said confronting members.

5. The combination with a standard, of a display device rotatably mounted thereon, said display device having a pair of members defining confronting grooves, one of said members being detachable from said device,

the other of said confronting members being adjustable, and means associated With said adjustable member to selectively maintain said members in any predetermined spaced relation.

6. The combination With a standard, of a plurality of display devices rotatably and slidably mounted thereon, means slidable on said standard for supporting said display devices, said display devices comprising a pair of confronting extensible members and scribed my name.

JAMES J OBRIEN. 

